Türkiye postpones electricity-market advance payments in four earthquake-affected regions

What happened

Türkiye’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) has changed the payment timing for specified electricity-market advance payments in the Akedaş, Dicle, Fırat and Toroslar electricity distribution areas. The regulator linked the measure to the continuing effects of the earthquakes centred on Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023.

Under the decision, amounts notified as advance payments under Article 132/Ç of the Electricity Market Balancing and Settlement Regulation will fall due on the final payment date of the invoice for the applicable billing period. The revised arrangement will operate from 1 January 2027 until 31 December 2027.

For eligible companies, this replaces the previous advance-payment timing with the due date attached to the corresponding invoice. EPDK also determined that default interest will not be imposed on either the market operator or market participants while the deferral applies.

Why it matters

The decision alters cash-payment scheduling for qualifying suppliers active in the four affected areas. Those businesses should review advance-payment notices, invoice cycles and internal treasury plans to ensure payments are made by the relevant invoice deadline.

The scope covers incumbent supply companies within the categories listed in Article 17(2), subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (ç), of the regulation. It also includes supply companies directly or indirectly owned by organised industrial zones, although only their electricity sales inside the boundaries of the relevant zone are covered.

By removing default interest for the deferred period, the decision avoids an additional charge associated with the changed payment date. The measure does not establish a permanent change to payment obligations: its stated validity ends at the close of 2027.

What companies should do next

Suppliers operating in the four areas should confirm whether they fall within the specified regulatory categories and identify which notified amounts qualify. Organised industrial zone-linked suppliers should separately verify that the underlying sales occurred within their relevant zone.

EPDK adopted decision number 14938 at its 8 October 2026 meeting, relying on Article 140 of the Electricity Market Balancing and Settlement Regulation. Companies should retain the decision details alongside their billing and settlement records for the 2027 period.